Everyone Gets Involved As Vandals Surge Idaho Enjoying New-Found Team Concept, Improved Shooting

There is more to Idaho’s revival than just the fact that its shots are starting to fall. Of course, that doesn’t hurt.

Also emerging are more scorers, more dogged rebounding, more presence on the interior and more sharing of the basketball. And when those factors occasionally faded Thursday night, Cal State Fullerton came to UI’s aid in the Vandals’ 77-62 Big West Conference men’s win in front of 2,115 at the Kibbie Dome.

Idaho, which entertains UC Irvine on Saturday night, won its second straight following a five-game losing streak. The Vandals are 6-7 overall, 2-2 in conference. The Titans are 7-6, 1-2.

“I didn’t think it was necessarily a pretty game,” said UI coach Dave Farrar, a bit pale from battling an illness this week. “We made a bunch (of mistakes), but we did play hard and we shot the ball well enough. A lot of different people are contributing some pretty big things.”

Perfection wasn’t a requirement. Fullerton’s problems stemmed from the foul line, both on offense and defense. The Titans made just 9 of 22 free throws. Idaho made 15 of 24 - nothing to make Rick Barry envious - but the Vandals retrieved numerous misses and converted with back-breaking baskets.

Leading 66-60, Idaho’s Avery Curry missed the front half of a one-and-one, but the Titans barged into the lane early for a violation. Given a reprieve, Curry made both foul shots.

Less than a minute later, Kevin Byrne missed his second free throw, but UI controlled the rebound, leading to Gordon Scott’s 3-pointer and a 72-60 lead with 1:52 left.

Curry had 14 of his 18 points in the first half, which Idaho ended with an 8-1 run for a 35-30 lead. Scott hit four of UI’s 10 3-pointers and added 17 points. Just as important: Devon Ford’s 10 second-half points and five rebounds, Kevin Byrne’s 12 rebounds, Cameron Banks’ 10 points, Kaniel Dickens’ 9 points and five boards and Mao Tosi being Mao Tosi.

Tosi, slowed by a knee injury, played 13 minutes, scored two points and had two rebounds. But the Vandals seem a little tougher and the lane seems a little smaller when he’s around.

“He brings a lot more to the game than people think,” Ford said.

So does Ford, who has played in the last six games after breaking his foot in an exhibition game. He hit the first two baskets of the second half and Scott added a 3 as Idaho went on top 42-30. The 6-foot-3 Ford grabbed a rebound away from 6-7 Mark Richardson for a putback that padded UI’s lead at 56-46 midway through the second half.

“Since Devon’s been playing, we’ve been getting four in double figures most of the time,” Farrar said.

The Vandals appear to be getting tougher to defend. Curry and Scott have always been dangerous, but not always accurate shooters. Curry, though, attempted only three shots in the second half and concentrated on his point guard duties. Scott tried 12 shots. Byrne, Dickens, Tosi and Ford combined to shoot 11 of 16, mostly in the paint.

“I think the team did a good job of screening and executing and we got a lot of easy baskets,” Curry said. Fullerton, which climbed out of a 19-6 hole to take a 29-27 lead, was led by Ike Harmon’s 15 points, but he was 6 of 14 from the floor. The Titans were outrebounded 43-32.

The Vandals are playing the way most expected when UI was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the East Division.

“I think our attitude has changed a little bit,” Curry said. “We’re getting in there and playing harder. Everybody’s going out with a purpose and we’re coming together. We’re settling into our positions.”

“We might have put ourselves in a hole early on,” Farrar said, “but right now I like our attitude about trying to fight our way out.”

Idaho 77, Cal St. Fullerton 62

Cal State-Fullerton (7-6) - Harmon 6-14 1-5 15, Jarrett 1-5 1-2 4, Richardson 0-2 1-3 1, Murphy 5-10 0-0 13, Cunningham 4-10 5-7 14, Helbig 2-5 0-0 4, Fischer 0-1 0-0 0, Deve 0-0 0-0 0, Caldwell 5-10 1-5 11. Totals 23-57 9-22 62.

Idaho (6-7) - Ford 4-5 2-3 10, Banks 3-9 3-5 10, Byrne 2-4 1-2 5, Curry 6-11 2-4 18, Scott 5-12 3-4 17, Miller 0-0 1-2 1, Toal 1-3 2-2 5, Dickens 4-6 1-2 9, Tosi 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 26-51 15-24 77.

Halftime-Idaho 35, Cal St.-Fullerton 30. 3-Point goals-Cal St.Fullerton 7-19 (Harmon 2-3, Jarrett 1-5, Murphy 3-5, Cunningham 1-3, Helbig 0-3), Idaho 10-24 (Banks 1-3, Curry 4-8, Scott 4-10, Toal 1-3). Fouled out-Caldwell, Ford, Tosi. Rebounds-Cal St.Fullerton 32 (Caldwell 6), Idaho 43 (Byrne 12). Assists-Cal St.Fullerton 3 (Harmon 2), Idaho 12 (Scott 4). Total fouls-Cal St.Fullerton 21, Idaho 23. A-2,115.